Idaho police officers opened fire from behind a chain-link fence just seconds after exiting their patrol cars and critically wounded a teenage boy — described by his family as nonverbal, autistic and intellectually disabled — as he stepped toward them with a knife, video from a witness shows.

Seventeen-year-old Victor Perez, who also has cerebral palsy, remained hospitalized in critical condition Tuesday after having nine bullets removed from his body and having his leg amputated, Ana Vazquez, his aunt, told The Associated Press. Doctors were planning tests on his brain activity.

The shooting Saturday in Pocatello outraged the boy’s family and neighbors as well as viewers online who questioned why the officers opened fire within about 12 seconds of exiting their patrol cars while making no apparent effort to de-escalate the situation or use less lethal weapons. Dozens of protesters gathered outside the police department Sunday, eastidahonews.com reported.

      • HellsBelle@sh.itjust.worksOP
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        4 days ago

        I don’t know where everyone gets the idea the caller was a kid when the article is clear that he was not.

        Brad Andres, who took the video, has an auto shop nearby and told the AP he noticed a disturbance when he stepped outside to take a phone call around 5:20 Saturday. His 19-year-old son, Bridger, called 911 and reported it as a domestic dispute in a backyard.

        • leadore@lemmy.world
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          4 days ago

          They probably read the person who lied/was mistaken in another post and automatically believed them. They’re both getting lots of upvotes for saying it was a 12-yo child who called (it was actually a 19-yo). Some people are more into getting upvotes than being accurate.

          • AA5B@lemmy.world
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            4 days ago

            Don’t see how it matters much. A 19 year old kid called the cops for help. He did the right thing. It should have been the right thing